Page 4-The Michigan Daily- Monday, January 11, 1993 . ... Editor in Chief MATTHEW D. RENNIE No WARNW , DtONTT ?Af(E ThtE REPLACEMEN.T" 'E?S'aNALLY, IaLT I HAVE A DIF FEPEP47T Vi Sio". FoR -rHE ~Fu1URE.OF THE-wPREIDNTiAL- COUNCIJ- ON PHYSICAL F7W5S5. - I. . . N -1 . ; , ' "; , .. ,' -. . . . -. C .' 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 764-0552 Opinion Editors YAEL CITRO GEOFFREY EARLE AMITAVA MAZUMDAR Edited and Managed by Students at the University of Michigan Unsigned editorials represent a majority of the Daily's Editorial Board. All other cartoons, signed articles, and letters do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Daily. ___17!Tb LXII 5 rTT'FE, T~ A TY ~T I C V l .rm lXi S Yr, .. - r It -a.- '6 { t i r y l~.., Cf ~/Mgt -,, .. 7 AI~ I ~;i 6kb' :&; CM&A .Jb,L>'" l 0 * 'U' fails moral test ... The military's exclusion of gays represents perhaps the last bastion of blatant, govern- ment sponsored discrimination. University Presi- dent James Duderstadt had an excellent opportu- nity to stand up against this clear moral wrong ... and he wavered. Although presidents of88 univer- sities nationwide signed an advertisement in the New York Times protesting the military's exclu- sion of gays, Duderstadt's name was conspicu- ously absent. The administration offered two explanations for the omission. Executive Director for Univer- sity Relations Walter Harrison explained that the University chooses to work "behind the scenes" to change the policy, insisting that "public confron- tation," as he labeled the advertisement, would be counterproductive., Indeed, working within the system is often the most effective way to bring about positive change. But signing on to a newspaper advertisement is hardly "public confrontation." If the military is so irrational that it would cut off all relations simply because the University supported a public criti- cism of the military, then perhaps trying to per- suade the military to change its policy by force of reason is futile. The University deserves commendation if it is indeed quietly lobbying the military to include gays. But whatever ties that may have developed between the two institutions should not prevent President Duderstadt from taking a moral stand. If Duderstadt is indeed so fearful of rupturing ties that he cannot state his position in public, then he is engaged not in negotiation but appeasement. Harrison's other rationale: Duderstadt may have been unaware of the decision not to sign the adver- tisement. "I don't even know if we discussed it with him," he explained. If Duderstadt is running his administration with such Reaganistic nescience that his subordinates neglect to inform him of his major policy decisions, then whoever it is that actually makes these decisions must be held ac- countable for their cowardice. The University has no obligation to right every social evil. But by failing to participate in such a' simple step as a newspaper advertisement, the administration sends the message that it supports discrimination against gays. I '' LEII7ERS ' :... ... ... .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . A matter of talent, not ethnicity ... while mistreating LGIVLPO To the Daily: Recently, in a Daily article ("Campus disputes role of minority faculty," 12/7/92), a reporter wrote: "Students, faculty, staff... say that, if the University hires these people because they are Native Americans, they have a responsibility to help the Native American community." I have never been so enraged at a Daily article in the years I have been here. The assumption that Native American faculty members were hired because of their ethnicity is beyond racist, it is insulting. In my role as a mathematics graduate student, I have had the good fortune to work with two Native American faculty mem- bers. Professor Thomas Storer is one of the most brilliant men I know, and I am proud that he took me on as his student. Professor Robert Megginson is involved in both running courses, and transforming the math department's tutoring facility into a 21st century program. During the creation of the new calculus curriculum, his advice has been invaluable. Nobody has a right to tell either of these men what they should be doing with their spare time. (In fact, both of them happen to be active in the Native- American community, but this is their choice and theirs alone.) It is hard to believe that this Daily reporter interviewed at least six people (students, faculty and staff) who all made such an asinine statement. But let's give her the benefit of the doubt. The person she did quote was Tara Browner, who said, "Does Indian. blood make a person Indian? I say no." If Tara is one of the people who believe that these professors were hired because of that blood, then she is flat out wrong. Doug Shaw Rackham graduate student Along with University President James Duderstat's failure to sign his name on the New York Times ad criticizing the military's ban on homosexuals, the administration's behavior regarding the Lesbian and Gay Male Programs Office (LGMPO) illustrates itslack of resepect for the University's homosexual community as a whole. LGMPO - which offers counseling, per- forms educational outreach, and serves as a re- source for the entire campus - has been repeat- edly mistreated and disregarded by the adminis- tration. In fact, Billie Edwards submitted her resigna- tion late last week as co-coordinator of LGMPO, and indoing so cited the administration's mistreat- ment of the organization as her main reason. She explained that past and proposed "changes make it impossible for me to do those things that I was hired to do." The most recent example of the administration's inexusable treatment of LGMPO was the original omission of its name from the sign on the third floor of the Michigan Union, where the office had been located for twelve years. Richard Carter, associate dean of student affairs, said in December that LGMPO's abscence on the wall was not a mistake, but that the office was going through transitions and reorganization and its future loca- tion was unsure. However, this came as a complete surprise to LGMPO. Whenitinquired, the organization was told that its focus was too narrow to be included on the wall directory, which was intended for the entire stu- dent population. Fortunately, a barrage of com- plaints led to the addition of LGMPO's name over break. Yet only the acronym appears on the direc- tory, which may be confusing for people seeking counseling, but are unfamiliar with the organiza- tion. LGMPO should not have been forced to endure this intentional attempt to diminish its importance and validity. The organization has suffered other injustices as well. Along with the budget cut that affected all Student Affairs, it endured a hiring freeze on two recently vacated half-time positions. The adminis- tration informed LGMPO that its counseling/thera- peutic aspect will be dropped, and that the admin- istration would impose a new name and possibly a new location on the organization. Most distress- ingly, the administration is deciding on the direc- tion of this twenty-one year old organization with- out consulting its staff, volunteers or the commu- nity. In her letter of resignation, Edwards urged that a search commitee which includes members of the homosexual community be assembled to find her successor. She stated that the administration is destroying the LGMPO and that she could no longer allow her name to be connected with recent developments. Along with Edwards, other LGMPO staff and volunteers are concerned with the future of the organization. The administration's behavior and treatment of the office in general illiustrates its lack of regard for the community that LGMPO serves. If the admin- istration wants to hold true to its continual pledge for an open and multicultural campus, it needs to take steps towards reversing these past injustices and must work with LGMPO instead of against it. Correction needed over UAC apology To the Daily: We would like to applaud the Daily for printing its editorial ("Opening the Gates to Contro- versy," 12/19/92) supporting the University Activities Center/ Viewpoint Lectures' decision to produce the debate on the future of the criminal justice system with former Los Angeles Police Department Chief Daryl Gates and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) President Nadine Strossen. However, it was conveyed in the article that we were apologiz- ing for the event. That contention is not accurate. We do not apologize for the event, for the speakers we brought to discuss the issues, or for the money we spent in producing the debate. When we extended our apology, through the letter published in the Daily, it was meant for those students, staff and faculty who misinterpreted the intentions of the event. We are sorry for those who did not take advantage of such a unique event on a college campus to voice their concerns and opinions to the speakers them- selves and receive a direct and thorough reply. We are sorry for those who, in resorting to violent protest, missed the intellectual and critical exchange of ideas being articulated inside the auditorium. It is our belief that this type of vigorous debate or intellectual analysis is necessary for a healthy learning environment and an informed campus community. Further, UAC/Viewpoint Lectures will continue to encourage these types of debates, lectures and analyses. The presence of this vigorous exchange of ideas and questioning the status quo builds the pillars of this and other important institutions. Bhavin Shah Lisa Tafuri Co-Producers, UAC/Viewpoint Lectures Where was campus security? To the Daily: Campus security's slow response to the gas main leak which took place in Family Housing's Northwood IV complex could have cost many lives if the circumstances had been a little different. Witnesses report that it took more than 10 minutes for the first security officers to arrive on the scene. By that time residents hundreds of yards away could smell the gas in the air. It is reported that personnel from the nearby fire station arrived on . location only after a Family Housing resident ran over there to tell them what was happening. They had not yet been called by security. Evacuation of nearby housing was started by an alert Family Housing community aid when the immanent danger of the situation became apparent. Where was security? Fortu- nately, no one was injured in the incident. It was a wet and windy night. Everyone was indoors when the pressurized gas came screaming out of the broken pipe. Why did it take so long for security personnel to arrive on the scene? Why didn't the dispatcher notify the fire department immediately? Why wasn't there an evacuation plan which could be quickly implemented in the face of this kind of danger? What can be done to prevent future lapses of this sort in potentially life threatening situations? Will there be an official investigation of the slow response, with full public disclosure? We were very lucky this time. Clayton Hubner Rackham graduate student 0j OECD offers constructive advise T he Organization for Economic Cooperation isn't entirely true. The health care crisis is a perfect and Development (OECD), a Paris-based or- example. Any attempt to implement universal cov- ganization of industrialized nations, recently pub- erage will require significanttax-hikes. But consid- lished a report criticizing the United States gov- ering how much individuals and industries are ernment for refusing to tax Americans adequately. shelling out for health care (Ford Motor Co. spends The government's refusal, according to the OECD, more on health insurance than on steel), a tax-hike was forcing Washington, D.C. to borrow billions would be a profitable trade-off. of dollars in investment capital from other wealthy While higher taxes will not end all economic nations - dollars which could go to.third world woes, it is becoming increasingly obvious that it is and former Soviet bloc countries. Moreover, the a necessary step. With new reports that the deficit size of the budget deficit and the national debt is even larger than suspected, Clinton is faced with indicate that the OECD is .., even morepressureto curb clearly on to something."-'its growth. AsPresident-elect Clinton r.- Income taxes remain a takes over and the new Con- A'- primary way to generate gress convenes, the Demo- = money quickly, but tax- crats should stand by their .5c = hikes won't be the only campaign promise to raise :necessary sacrifices. Lim- taxes on the highest bracket. ,?Iiting entitlements, espe- The United States remains,' cially to the wealthy, will by far, the least taxed of all - also be necessary and un- i ied nations. The popular. Other painful highest percentage of income -. j steps, like cutting agricul- Americans pay is approxi- ural subsidies and cls- l 31 errtnt white the _ _ __ _ing defense plants will be The Daily encourages its readers to voice their opinions. All letters should be 300 words or less. All op-ed pieces should not exceed 3,000 characters. Please include your name and year in school. The editors reserve the right to edit all submissions for style and space. Send all submissions to: The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard Ann Arbor, Mich. 48109. s Israel disriegards humnrgt by Stephen Sheehi Today, 400 Palestinians are sit- ting in an ironic "no-man's land" inside The Republic of Lebanon. Putting aside the irony that 10 miles inside Lebanon does not mean that one is actually in Lebanon - a sign of Israel's power in the region - these 400 meh are caught between exile and domestic oppression. Only a few weeks ago, on the eve of the United States Presiden- tial election, students, on the pages of the Daily, were debating whether the State of Israel is a democratic Although I am not. accusing Israel of the genocide of Palestinians, I am accusing Israel of continuing humdn .:Arch" h.z:- monuments for which Italy is so famous. Many of these monuments, however, are in memory of Italian partisans executed as reparation for If Israel contends that it is a legitimate state, let alone a democracy, it cannot deport indigenous population from their homeland, even if these deportees did have a fair trial and were convicted of a serious event. cial state boarders, in addition to continued abuses against the Leba- nese people of Southern Lebanon. Israel, though ithas theprivilege the resistance attacks against the occupying Nazi Army. InRome and Bologna, the policy of the German Army was that for every one German soldier who died as a result of a partisan guerrilla attack, youth would be rounded up and imprisoned. Then the com- mander of the local forces would check off 10 names for every one German and execute the individu- als. If the attacks persisted, which they did, the ratio would be in- of being able to distinguish between an inside and an outside - some- thing that the Lebanese, and cer- tainly the Palestinians, are not so privileged in having. Apart from the ethical and moral dilemma that these deportations raise, especially rec- ognizable to peoples with histories of being victimized, the action is a blatant disregard for international law and the Geneva Convention to which Israel is bound. If Israel contends that it is a matey p11r1c , YiAAIW tA& Mr cap for citizens of Italy, France, Germany and other nations is upwards of 50 percent. While an immediate cap increase from 31 to 50 percent would be dangerous and risky, the current levels are emhrrnasinvly low and fail to collect the necessary. Progress won't come easily. Of course income is not the only taxable item. The United States continues to tax goods and ser- vices at a much lower clip than other nations. In 1989, the most recent year statistics are available,